Last but Definitely Not Least

Let’s finish up the Wildflower Birthday Celebration with Kjempe CGC CGCA! Marija sends us this happy update:

“Two years old and still turning heads! Kjempe is the ultimate charmer. So social ~ loves people, loves my nieces and family, loves other dogs, loves cats, loves to be the center of attention ~ and is ALWAYS the one getting the all of the compliments! This morning's compliment? "Your dog is 'stunning'!" (and he knows it...prancing along).

Kjempe still does not walk. It is always a prance/trot. We walk fast, or I have to kick it into a slow jog to keep up to his natural gate. We walk or hike every morning between 2-4 miles. If I'm not up at 5:15, his snout is in my face wondering what's going on...unless of course he's tired, then we all sleep in until 5:45 ha ha.

On his birthday we walked along the river and knowing he's not the fondest of water, I let him go up to the river to dip his feet in and get a drink. All of the birthday excitement must've been in the air because he RAN out into the river and looked at me all proud (I was having a heart attack because I haven't taught him to swim yet), and then he paddled his way back towards where he could touch and came running out with zoomies so excited! Despite my anxiety, we turned that into a "fun/exciting" experience - now he's a water dog :-) Swimming lessons are on board for the summer.

We started agility training this spring and are currently in level two with an instructor who's been teaching for over 20 years. Her mother has two Berners and she attends the annual show in Estes every year. Kjempe is in HEAVEN! He LOVES agility. He is an absolute rockstar, cannot wait to try new contacts/obstacles, is completely attentive and ready to learn, masters skills in 2-3 tries, and is THE fastest dog I've ever seen. Now I'm in training for sprints so that I can keep up on the course. The instructor cannot get over his fearlessness, and agrees he is extremely fast and surprising nimble for his size (104 pounds).

He works with me every day at the computer ~ well, as you can see, I work and he sleeps. Belly rubs and scratches are top priority, and if you haven't tried one yet, all of my animals love the hypervolt muscle massage gun. The second I turn it on (for myself), I'm surrounded by animals vying for a turn. I never get to use it...

Kjempe loves the snow and winter, he can't get enough. This year he got a skijoring harness and did some cross-country skiing with me. I was impressed by how well he mined the skies and harness.

Still a lot in store for this pup! Live music/concerts, events downtown, hiking, swimming, agility and skijoring ~ BEST SIDEKICK EVER!

What a wonderful life!!!! Thank you, Mariya — so much. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJEMPE!

Kitsap!

Another wonderful Wildflower Birthday Update!

Bridget shares, “Kitsap and I are deeply bonded. Between naps Kitsap will come up and climb his front paws and chest across my lap. As he slides back off after a quick check in and kisses, he sits up on his back haunches with a ramrod straight back.

Kitsap comes flying in on a come command with full gusto. When he heals, I wish I could take credit as his handler for that wonderful adoring head position, but I think it was bred into him because it just happened when I asked him to walk with me, I bet it is a Kaibab trait.

The trainer we work with says through working with lots of dogs, some are super special and memorable and Kitsap is certainly in that camp. In training we do some obedience, agility, rally and scent work. In addition to our individual lessons we have just started a class with our trainer focused toward the urban canine good citizen title. Kitsap is still working on maintaining focus with me without luring when the distractions are high so we may or may not earn the title at the end of the month but I know it will come eventually. We could easily get a novice trick dog title if I would just set up the test at some point.

Once Kitsap can sustain his focus in new situations he will be an excellent competition dog. We hope to get some obedience, agility, rally, and scent titles. We also really enjoy tracking and I hope to learn some carting. We are taking it things at Kitsap’s pace, not any particular goal oriented schedule that I might set, so that we both enjoy our training and competition time together.

A true member of the Montana Wildflowers puppy choir, he keeps his vocal cords exercised. He has the largest collection of whimpers and whines if he gets excited or if he knows you are in the house but not in his presence. If he’s really tired and soundly sleeping, he also dreams, twitches and whimpers. If he gets excited or doesn’t quite know what to do with the situation, he has the loudest bark, enough to give even those who know him well pause.

In our eyes Kitsap is a gorgeous adult male. We get a lot of admiring comments as we are out and about. Folks stop there car to comment in our little town. Of the four male berners I have owned, Kitsap is by far the most athletic and the strongest. (Hint: I really need to see the squirrel first on a walk.) He has such body control, it is so much fun to watch him jump and run and play. Every week we play with his English Springer Spaniel friend Hasley…

I love photos of him sitting that show his Swiss cross and the way he will tuck a paw while laying on his raised platform for the ‘place’ command.

He has grown into those huge paws, that fill my palm and he is loved with all my heart. He’s definitely my dog, watching for me at the gate when he hears the garage door open and greeting me with gusto every time I come home.”

A dog who is appreciated and has an interesting and wonderful life — a breeder cannot ask for more than that! Thank you, Bridget, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITSAP!!!!!

More Wildflower Birthday Celebration

I think these Wildflowers are gorgeous dogs — check out Lupine today!

Alex sends us this update…

It's hard to believe our Little Baby Lupine is already two years old.

Baby Lupine

She has grown up to be a beautiful, sweet, intelligent, and incredibly athletic dog. It's a running joke in my family that my dogs have always been the "weird" ones, and Lupine is no exception; all of her little eccentricities make her a true joy to spend time with. She has a very unique sparkle in her eyes and a talent for staring into your soul that would make you swear she can understand everything you say - she reminds me very much of Mesa in that way.

We are planning on getting her spayed soon, which she doesn't seem to agree with as she decided to have "babies" and is in the midst of a false pregnancy. Lupine presented a strong case for her merit regarding motherhood, but in the end she was deemed unfit when one of her babies was found drowning in a water bucket. Other than her misadventure with maternal hormones she is perfectly healthy and fit! It has been a great two years with Lupine and I look forward to many more spent with her.

Happy Birthday to all of the Wildflowers, wishing them all health and happiness!

Thank you so much, Alex and family, for Lupine’s happy life — and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUPINE!